Central Asia, EU pledge deeper cooperation on water and energy

Central Asian countries and European partners pledged to deepen cooperation on water and energy challenges exacerbated by climate change, officials said at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES2026).

Central Asia is among the regions most exposed to climate change, with accelerated glacier melt altering river flows and more frequent droughts disrupting hydropower generation, raising risks to food and energy security.

A panel on economic mechanisms for water-energy cooperation brought together officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, alongside international institutions, private sector representatives and civil society.

“In the face of the challenges before us — such as water, energy, and climate — it is important to unite our efforts and work together,” said Italy’s special envoy for climate Francesco Corvaro at a panel at the event. “Especially in a region like this, where the climate-related crisis is immense.”

Participants highlighted the urgency of boosting regional electricity trade, which currently accounts for only about 4% of consumption, even as demand could triple by 2050, according to the World Bank.

A key focus was a new ten-year programme to establish the first regional electricity market, aimed at expanding transmission capacity and integrating renewable energy.

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurlan Kurmalayev said European involvement could help mobilise investment. “The participation of ‘Team Europe’ opens additional opportunities for attracting investment and technology,” he noted.

European Union special representative Eduards Stiprais said the meeting reaffirmed commitment to joint action. “Water, energy, and climate are closely interconnected and require coordinated cross-sectoral solutions,” he said. He added that partners had “reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement,” including stronger mitigation and adaptation efforts.